Creek Fire updates: Fire grows east; no structure loss at Mono Hot Springs so far
The Creek Fire has now been burning for just over one month.
The wildfire grew by close to 4,000 acres on Monday, according to Cal Fire. As of Tuesday morning, the fire had burned 326,706 acres and was 49% contained. Those figures remained the same Tuesday night.
The Creek Fire remains the largest single-fire incident in state history., though several complex fires have burned more total acreage.
The fire continued to be active in the north, moving out toward The Minarets Range, and the east, where it jumped the south fork of the San Joaquin River on Monday. There had been no structure loss at Mono Hot Springs or the High Sierra Ranger Station as of Monday evening.
▪ The SQF Complex Fire, burning in and ear Sequoia National Park and forest, added less than 1,000 acres on Monday and had burned 158,945 acres. It remained at 65% containment.
▪ The Bullfrog Fire, burning east of Shaver Lake near Courtright Reservoir, continues to remain the same, according to incident reports. As of Monday night, it was still listed as 1,185 acres burned and 50% contained.
9:30 a.m.: Temporary entry allowed for Arnold, Beasore meadows communities
The Sierra National Forest will allow individuals to enter, temporarily, into two more areas within the Creek Fire to clean out and close cabins for the winter.
Those with permits will be allowed into the Arnold Meadow Community starting Wednesday and the Beasore Meadows Community beginning Thursday.
The Arnold Meadows Community will be escorted by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office and the USFS starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday through 3 p.m. Oct. 10. Permit holders will meet at Madera County Fire Station No. 11, old mill site at Douglas Station Road.
The Beasore Meadows Community will follow a similar plan beginning 9 a.m. Thursday through 3 p.m. Oct. 11. Permit holders will meet at Madera County Courthouse, Bass Lake, Road 274.
Permits allow access to and from specific communities only and do not allow access to any other area within the Sierra National Forest, which remains closed. Those who have already submitted permit requests you will not need to re-submit.
All applicants will be required to bring with them two forms of identification, a valid driver’s license/identification and proof of property ownership (electric bill or property deed).
The time frames will be enforced and should be used for the purpose intended. The forest service and sheriff’s office will sweep the area to be sure no one is loitering in the area.
The High Sierra Ranger District will continue its process for re-entry on Saturday and Sunday.
Roadblock access will be allowed from 7 am. to 1 p.m. each of the two days. Check-in will be staged at each of the roadblock access points to areas where entry is to be made for that day.
Access will be allowed by permit for McKinley Grove to Wishon to Courtright Roads from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Dinkey and Rock Creek areas from 7 a.m. t o 5 p.m. and Huntington Lake and Camp Sierra areas from 7 a.m. t o 7 p.m.
8 a.m.: Rain predicted in fire area this weekend. Could there be snow?
The remnants of a tropical system off the Pacific Coast is expected to move through the central San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday, bringing in cooler temperatures (almost seasonal) and more humidity through the weekend.
More importantly, it should flush out the haze, smoke and particulate matter that has accumulated in the Valley and foothills, though the air quality was still expected in the unhealthy levels through much of the Valley on Tuesday. Exceptions are San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties, where the Air Quality Index was expected in the moderate levels.
As of 7 a.m., the AQI in Fresno was anywhere from 158 to 182 depending on location. Anything from 150-200 is considered unhealthy. The PM2.5 level was at level four, according to the Real-Time Air Advisory Network. Sensitive individuals should exercise indoors and everyone should avoid prolonged or vigorous outdoor activities.
Into the weekend, there’s a 40% to 50% chance of measurable rain within the area of the Creek Fire on Saturday; slightly higher in the northern zone in Madera County, according to the Creek Fire’s incident meteorologist.
The storm system should be cold enough to even generate a little snow (the first of the season) in the highest elevations of the Sierra by midday Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
This story was originally published October 6, 2020 at 8:46 AM.